System and method for medical imaging report input

ABSTRACT

According to some embodiments of the invention, improved systems and methods for medical imaging report input are provided. A zero footprint software extension is provided that interfaces with supported hardware devices, such as dictation devices. The extension may be agnostic to different medical facilities and different medical imaging systems. Radiologists may quickly populate medical imaging reports with existing structured data included in the EMRs or other forms, such as medical orders. Radiologists may also use voice recognition technology in conjunction with the dictation devices to fill in diagnoses and other relevant information in the medical imaging reports. The functionality of the dictation devices may be configured by the radiologists to meet their preferences and needs, either generally or with respect to a specific medical imaging report.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/416,775, filed Jan. 26, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/287,244, filed Jan. 26, 2016,entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEDICAL IMAGING REPORT INPUT,” each ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Medical facilities, including hospitals and clinics, implement a varietyof medical imaging systems, such as X-rays, CTs, MRIs, ultrasounds, andthe like, to create medical images of patients. These medical images maybe combined with patient information (e.g., name, date of birth,historical medical records, etc.) as well as imaging information (e.g.,type of imaging, body location of imaging, name and location of medicalfacility, etc.) to create EMRs (electronic medical records). The EMRsmay then be sent to radiologists, who may analyze and interpret themedical images. The radiologists may generate a medical imaging reportincluding analysis and information (e.g., diagnoses, findings,conclusions, radiologist name, date and time of diagnoses, comments,etc.) that may be forwarded back to the medical facilities forappropriate treatment of the patients.

Implementing these processes may give rise to a variety of obstacles.For example, medical facilities may store EMRs (electronic medicalrecords) on different systems that often have different protocols.Furthermore, medical imaging that is included in EMRs is often receivedfrom a variety of medical imaging systems (e.g., X-rays, CTs, MRIs,etc.) having different manufacturers, models, and years of manufacture.Sharing and distributing EMRs having immense variations createsobstacles to doctors collaborating on patient care. For example,radiologists may need a number and variety of different types ofsoftware to receive, interpret and transmit EMRs and medical imagingreports to and from different medical facilities and/or differentmedical imaging systems.

Amongst the different types of software used by radiologists, dictationsoftware and apparatuses remains popular for completing analyses ofmedical images to generate medical imaging reports. Conventionally,radiologists receive the EMRs, interpret the medical imaging, and speakthe results, along with any other relevant accompanying information,into the dictation apparatuses. Recordings of the dictations may then besent by the radiologists to medical transcriptionists, who transcribethe information into a medical imaging report formatted according to therequirements of the prescribing medical facilities. By adding a thirdparty (i.e., a medical transcriptionist) to the process, delays,increased costs and a higher incidence of error may be experienced ingenerating and processing medical imaging reports. These barriers cannegatively impact patient care.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, according to some embodiments of the invention, improved systemsand methods for medical imaging report input are provided. According tosome embodiments of the invention, a zero footprint software extensionis provided that interfaces with supported hardware devices, such asdictation devices (referred to herein interchangeably as “recordingdevices”). The extension may be agnostic to different medical facilitiesand different medical imaging systems. In other words, EMRs receivedfrom different medical facilities and/or created by different medicalimaging systems may be converted to and displayed in a common format.Radiologists may quickly populate medical imaging reports with existingstructured data included in the EMRs or other forms, such as medicalorders. Radiologists may also use voice recognition technology inconjunction with the dictation devices to fill in diagnoses and otherrelevant information in the medical imaging reports. The functionalityof the dictation devices may be configured by the radiologists to meettheir preferences and needs, either generally or with respect to aspecific medical imaging report.

According to some embodiments of the invention, a radiological systemfor reviewing medical imaging in a browser environment is provided. Theradiological system comprises an input port configured to couple to adictation device including a microphone and a plurality of tactileinputs. The radiological system further comprises a display portconfigured to couple to a display. The radiological system furthercomprises a computing device communicatively coupled to both the displayand the dictation device. The computing device loads a browserapplication coupled to an applet hosted on remote hub located away fromthe computing device, loads code into the browser application tofacilitate communication between the dictation device and the applet,identifies the dictation device coupled to the computing device fromwithin the browser application, determines a device image thatcorresponds to the input device, selects the matching device image froma plurality of device images that correspond to a plurality of inputdevices, outputs the matching device image to the display port, whereinthe matching device image includes one or more graphical representationscorresponding to the one or more tactile inputs of the dictation device;outputs, to the display port, a map corresponding to the matching deviceimage, the map including a listing of the one or more tactile inputs ofthe dictation device and a listing of one or more actions assignable tothe one or more tactile inputs, wherein each of the one or more actionscorresponds to an input to the computing device; receives a first userinput corresponding to a first tactile input of the one or more tactileinputs of the dictation device via the input port; assigns a firstaction of the one or more actions to the first tactile input in responseto the first user input; outputs a medical imaging report to the displayport; receives a second user input from the first tactile input of theone or more tactile inputs of the dictation device via the input port;and amends the medical imaging report in the browser applicationaccording to the first action in response to receiving the second userinput from the first tactile input.

According to some embodiments of the invention, a method is provided.The method comprises identifying, by a computing device, an inputdevice, wherein the input device includes a microphone and one or moretactile inputs. The method further comprises selecting, by the computingdevice, a matching device image that corresponds to the input device,wherein the matching device image is selected from a plurality of deviceimages that correspond to a plurality of input devices. The methodfurther comprises rendering, by the computing device, the matchingdevice image to a display coupled to the computing device, wherein thematching device image includes one or more graphical representationscorresponding to the one or more tactile inputs of the input device. Themethod further comprises rendering, by the computing device to thedisplay, a map corresponding to the matching device image, the mapincluding a listing of the one or more tactile inputs of the inputdevice and a listing of one or more actions assignable to the one ormore tactile inputs, wherein each of the one or more actions correspondsto an input to the computing device. The method further comprisesreceiving, by the computing device, a first user input corresponding toa first tactile input of the one or more tactile inputs of the inputdevice. The method further comprises assigning, by the computing device,a first action of the one or more actions to the first tactile input inresponse to the first user input. The method further comprisesrendering, by the computing device, a medical imaging report to thedisplay. The method further comprises receiving, by the computingdevice, a second user input from the first tactile input of the one ormore tactile inputs of the input device. The method further comprisesamending, by the computing device, the medical imaging report accordingto the first action in response to receiving the second user input fromthe first tactile input.

According to some embodiments of the invention, a computer-programproduct tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storagemedium of a computing device is provided. The non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium includes instructions that, whenexecuted by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors toidentify an input device, wherein the input device includes a microphoneand one or more tactile inputs; select a matching device image thatcorresponds to the input device, wherein the matching device image isselected from a plurality of device images that correspond to aplurality of input devices; render the matching device image to adisplay coupled to the computing device, wherein the matching deviceimage includes one or more graphical representations corresponding tothe one or more tactile inputs of the input device; render, to thedisplay, a map corresponding to the matching device image, the mapincluding a listing of the one or more tactile inputs of the inputdevice and a listing of one or more actions assignable to the one ormore tactile inputs, wherein each of the one or more actions correspondsto an input to the computing device; receive a first user inputcorresponding to a first tactile input of the one or more tactile inputsof the input device; assign a first action of the one or more actions tothe first tactile input in response to the first user input; render amedical imaging report to the display; receive a second user input fromthe first tactile input of the one or more tactile inputs of the inputdevice; and amend the medical imaging report according to the firstaction in response to receiving the second user input from the firsttactile input.

This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features ofthe claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolationto determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject mattershould be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entirespecification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim.

The foregoing, together with other features and embodiments, will becomemore apparent upon referring to the following specification, claims, andaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described indetail below with reference to the following drawing figures:

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a medical imaging distributionsystem according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating a medical imaging report inputsystem according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a graphical user interface (GUI) illustrating an input deviceand associated configuration dashboard according to some embodiments ofthe invention.

FIG. 4A is a system diagram illustrating a medical imaging reportprocessing system according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4B is a system diagram of illustrating a radiological system forreviewing medical imaging in a browser environment according to someembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a medical imaging report inputmethod according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an architectural diagram illustrating the functional layers ofa medical imaging report input system according to some embodiments ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain aspects and embodiments of this disclosure are provided below.Some of these aspects and embodiments may be applied independently andsome of them may be applied in combination as would be apparent to thoseof skill in the art. In the following description, for the purposes ofexplanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, it willbe apparent that various embodiments may be practiced without thesespecific details. The figures and description are not intended to berestrictive.

The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is notintended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of thedisclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodimentswill provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description forimplementing an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood thatvarious changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elementswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

Specific details are given in the following description to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments maybe practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits,systems, networks, processes, and other components may be shown ascomponents in block diagram form in order not to obscure the embodimentsin unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits,processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be shown withoutunnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

Also, it is noted that individual embodiments may be described as aprocess which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flowdiagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchartmay describe the operations as a sequential process, many of theoperations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition,the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminatedwhen its operations are completed, but could have additional steps notincluded in a figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function,a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process correspondsto a function, its termination can correspond to a return of thefunction to the calling function or the main function.

The term “computer-readable medium” includes, but is not limited to,portable or non-portable storage devices, optical storage devices, andvarious other mediums capable of storing, containing, or carryinginstruction(s) and/or data. A computer-readable medium may include anon-transitory medium in which data can be stored and that does notinclude carrier waves and/or transitory electronic signals propagatingwirelessly or over wired connections. Examples of a non-transitorymedium may include, but are not limited to, a magnetic disk or tape,optical storage media such as compact disk (CD) or digital versatiledisk (DVD), flash memory, memory or memory devices. A computer-readablemedium may have stored thereon code and/or machine-executableinstructions that may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, aprogram, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class,or any combination of instructions, data structures, or programstatements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or ahardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data,arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments,parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via anysuitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing,network transmission, or the like.

Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software,firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or anycombination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middlewareor microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessarytasks (e.g., a computer-program product) may be stored in acomputer-readable or machine-readable medium. A processor(s) may performthe necessary tasks.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 for distributing EMRs (electronicmedical records) that include medical imaging. System 100 includesmedical imaging devices. The medical imaging devices may include, butare not limited to, X-ray device 105, MRI device 110, and CT scan device115. Other types of medical imaging devices (not shown) includeultrasound devices, endoscopy devices, elastography devices, tactileimaging devices, thermography devices, medical photography devices,nuclear medicine functional imaging devices (e.g., positron emissiontomography (PET) devices, single-photo emission computed tomography(SPECT) devices, etc.), and/or the like. System 100 also includes caresystem 153, imaging selection device 133, medical imaging distributiondevice 190, and radiology terminals 171, 172, and 173.

In the illustrated embodiment, X-ray device 105 is networked to caresystem 153 via link 143. Similarly, MRI device 110 is networked to caresystem 153 via link 145 and CT scan device 115 is networked to caresystem 153 via link 147. Links 143, 145, 147 may include Ethernetconnections, wireless connections, or any other suitable network and/ornetworking protocol. For example, links 143, 145, 147 may be implementedas part of a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), ametropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a storagearea network (SAN), an enterprise private network (EPN), a virtualprivate network (VPN), and/or the like. Links 143, 145, 147 mayrepresent communication via any suitable network protocol, such asWiFi/WiMAX, Bluetooth, fibre channel network protocols, TCP/IP, OSI,SSH, SMB, FTP, SMTP, HTTP, HTTPs, SSL, SFTP, and/or the like.

Care system 153 may include a networked datastore suitable to storeEMRs, medical imaging, patient information, and the like, such asnetwork-attached storage (NAS) or the like. Care system 153 may include,for example, EMR storage, a Picture Archiving and Communication System(PACS), a Radiology Information System (RIS), and/or the like. In someembodiments, care system 153 is a data storage server connected to anetwork that provides access to EMRs and other records by clients, suchas medical facilities, doctors, patients, caregivers, and/orradiologists. Care system 153 may provide access to EMRs and otherrecords using network file sharing protocols such as Network File System(NFS) protocol, Server Message Block (SMB)/Common Internet File System(CIFS) protocol, and/or Apple Filing Protocol (AFP). Care system 153 mayinclude redundant memory backups to ensure the integrity of the EMRs.The networked datastore may have Terabytes of storage, for example. Caresystem 153 may include, for example, primary storage, secondary storage,tertiary storage, and/or offline storage. Care system 153 may furtherinclude processors, in some embodiments.

Imaging selection device 133 is configured to access care system 153 andmedical imaging stored in care system 153. Imaging selection device 133is configured to read EMRs stored in care system 153 as well as write toEMRs stored in care system 153 via link 149. Link 149 may includeEthernet connections, wireless connections, or other suitable networkingprotocol that facilitates read and/or write access to the particularcare system 153.

X-ray device 105, MRI device 110, CT scan device 115, care system 153,and imaging selection device 133 may all be included in a same medicalfacility such as a hospital or clinic. Alternatively, the medicalimaging devices may be in use at more than one clinic while care system153 is not co-located at the same physical site of the medical imagingdevices. In other words, care system 153 may be located locally orremotely with respect to a medical facility. Thus, it is contemplatedthat more than one care system 153 may be implemented in someembodiments.

Imaging selection device 133 is configured to access medical imagingfiles within care system 153 as well as certain medical data that isgermane to analyzing medical imaging. Some medical data that is includedin EMRs stored in care system 153 is not germane to medical imagingfiles. For example, a patient's social security number is notnecessarily useful in analyzing medical imaging. Imaging selectiondevice 133 sends medical imaging files and other relevant medical datathat is relevant to analyzing medical imaging to medical imagingdistribution device 190, via link 163. Medical imaging distributiondevice 190 may be a cloud server physically located at a datacenter insome embodiments. System 100 may include more than one distributiondevice 190 that are stored in different regional locales, for example.Imaging selection device 133 may access the distribution device 190 thatis within closest physical proximity to the imaging selection device 133in some embodiments. In some embodiments, imaging selection device 133may select a distribution device 190 according to some other criteria,such as network traffic at particular distribution devices 190.

Distribution device 190 receives the medical images and other relevantmedical data and generates a task to be put into a task list. The taskincludes the medical images and other medical data that would be usefulin analyzing the medical images and generating a radiology report. Thetask is assigned to a radiologist and then transferred to thedevice/system (e.g. 171, 172, or 173) used by the assigned radiologistvia one of network links 193. The server may assign the task to acertain radiologist based on radiology specialty (e.g., neurology,oncology, etc.), radiologist availability, a number of tasks already ina radiologist queue, or a variety of other factors.

The assigned radiologist will generate a report based on viewing themedical images and corresponding relevant medical data and send thereport back to distribution device 190, via link 193. Distributiondevice 190 transmits the report back to imaging selection device 133.The report may be in a designated (e.g., standardized) format forefficient processing by imaging selection device 133. Imaging selectiondevice 133 stores the report in care system 153 so that it is accessiblefor health care providers, facilities, caregivers, patients, etc., thatmay have access to care system 153.

FIG. 2 illustrates a medical imaging report input system 200 thatincludes one or more displays 210, a computing device 220, and an inputdevice 230. System 200 is one example of a terminal that a radiologistmay use to generate a medical imaging report to be appended to an EMR.Input device 230 may be communicatively coupled to computing device 220via communication link 225. Communication link 225 may be wired (e.g.,USB) or wireless (e.g., WiFi, BlueTooth, etc.).

Display(s) 210 may include one or more monitors (e.g., flat screenmonitors) that are connected to computing device 220, which may be acomputer tower. Computing device 220 includes processing logic (e.g.,processor, microprocessor, FPGA, or other suitable logic device).Computing device 220 may also include a memory for storing medicalimaging files (at least temporarily) and medical imaging reports. Themedical imaging reports may also be stored in medical imagingdistribution device 190, which is in communication with computing device190 via network link 193. In one implementation, display 210 andcomputing device 220 are integrated into a desktop computer, a laptopcomputer, a netbook, a tablet computer, or a mobile device (e.g., asmart phone, a wearable device, etc.).

Computing device 220 may use any suitable number of subsystems tofacilitate the functions described herein. Such subsystems or componentsmay be interconnected via a system bus. Subsystems may include aprinter, keyboard, fixed disk (or other memory comprising computerreadable media), display 210, which may be coupled to a display adapter,and others. Peripherals and input/output (I/O) devices, which may coupleto an I/O controller, can be connected to the computing device 220 byany number of means. For example, an external interface can be used toconnect the computing device 220 to a WAN such as the Internet, inputdevice 230, or a scanner. The interconnection via the system bus mayallow the central processor to communicate with each subsystem and tocontrol the execution of instructions from system memory or the fixeddisk, as well as the exchange of information between subsystems. Thesystem memory and/or the fixed disk may embody a computer-readablemedium.

The functions of computing device 220 described herein may beimplemented as software code to be executed by a processor using anysuitable computer language such as, for example, Java, C++, or Perl,using, for example, conventional or object-oriented techniques. Thesoftware code may be stored as a series of instructions or commands on acomputer-readable medium, such as a random access memory (RAM), a readonly memory (ROM), a magnetic medium such as a hard drive or a floppydisk, and/or an optical medium such as a CD-ROM. The computer readablemedium may be any combination of such storage or transmission devices.

Such programs may also be encoded and transmitted using carrier signalsadapted for transmission via wired, optical and/or wireless networksconforming to a variety of protocols, including the Internet. As such, acomputer-readable medium according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may be created using a data signal encoded with such programs.Computer-readable media encoded with the program code may be packagedwith a compatible device or provided separately from other devices(e.g., via Internet download). Any such computer-readable medium mayreside on or within a single computer product (e.g., a hard drive a CD,or an entire computer system), and may be present on or within differentcomputer products within a system or network. The system may includedisplay 210 for providing any of the results described herein to a user.

Input device 230 includes at least one microphone for voice inputpurposes. Input device 230 may be a USB (Universal Serial Bus) HID(Human Interface Device) input device. In some embodiments, computingdevice 220 includes a USB port and input device 230 is plugged into theUSB port of computing device 220. In one embodiment, input device 230 isa Philips LFH5276. Input device 230 may be, in some embodiments, arecording device and/or a dictation device.

Computing device 220 may render medical imaging files of EMRs to display210 for a radiologist to analyze. As will be discussed in more detailbelow, a radiologist may populate fields of a medical imaging report byspeaking into the microphone of input device 230. The radiologist mayalso make other inputs to the medical imaging report by interacting withtactile inputs (e.g. buttons, trackpad, trackball) of input device 230.

When a given input device 230 is connected to computing device 220,computing device 220 may identify the input device 230. In someembodiments, input device 230 may send the computing device 220 a deviceidentifier (in a bit string, for example) via communication link 225.Computing device 220 may identify the input device 230 according to thedevice identifier. Once computing device 220 identifies the input device230, it may determine whether the identified input device 230 is a“trusted” or supported input device. In some embodiments, computingdevice 220 may compare the device identifier with a list of “trusted” orsupported device identifiers stored on medical imaging distributiondevice 190. In some embodiments, computing device 220 may store a listof device identifiers that are “trusted” or supported. Computing device220 may compare a device identifier received from input device 230 to alist of the trusted or supported device identifiers stored in memory ofthe computing device 220. Computing device 220 may send the deviceidentifier to medical imaging distribution device 190 and receive adevice image in return that is a graphical, pictorial and/or symbolicimage of the trusted or supported device associated with that deviceidentifier. Computing device 220 may also store device images of each ofthe trusted or supported devices. As used herein, a “trusted” device maybe a device registered with the computing device 220. As used herein, a“supported” device may be a device capable of interfacing with thecomputing device 220 (e.g., an installed device, a device having adriver installed on computing device 220, a device for which a drivercan be obtained, etc.).

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface (GUI) includinga device image 304 and an interface action map 306 rendered on a display(e.g., display 210 of FIG. 2). In FIG. 3, device image 304 maycorrespond to an identified (and trusted or supported) input device 330,in the illustrated embodiment. Input device 330 is one example of inputdevice 230. Input device 330 includes exemplary tactile inputs 332, 334,336, 338, 342, 344, and 346. Tactile input 332 may be a trackpad or atouchpad. Tactile input 334 may be a trackball. Tactile inputs 336, 338,342, 344, and 346 may be buttons in the illustrated embodiment. AlthoughFIG. 3 includes buttons, trackpads, and trackballs, tactile inputs mayalso include other types of inputs, including capacitive sensing inputs,resistive sensing inputs, switches, or any other tactile inputs thatreceive inputs from users.

Device image 304 may match input device 330 in that it is a graphical,pictorial and/or symbolic representation of the input device 330 andincludes the tactile inputs of input device 330. Device image 304 may berendered on a display, such as display 210. Device image 304 may berendered simultaneously with or separately from interface action map 306on one or more displays 210, in combination or separately. Interfaceaction map 306 may give a user the ability to map buttons on inputdevice 230 to actions of input to the computing device 220. For example,the input actions may correspond to amendments of a medical imagingreport displayed on display 210. In another example, the input actionsmay correspond to any functionality of the computing device, such asbrowser functionality, underlying web functionality, etc.

In the illustrated embodiment, interface action map 306 includes alisting of each tactile input of input device 330 on the left ofinterface action map 306. A corresponding action is assigned to eachtactile input to the right of the listing of the tactile input. Forexample, action 352 is assigned to tactile input 332, in the illustratedembodiment. Action 352 may be changed by a user. In one implementationwhere interface action map 306 is rendered to a display, a user mayselect a specific action to assign to tactile input 332 by selecting theaction from a drop-down menu. A user may use a computer mouse orkeyboard to select the action to assign to the corresponding tactileinput, in one embodiment. The actions assigned to the tactile inputs maybe saved by the user to a user profile that is stored at medical imagingdistribution device 190. Although shown and described in a particularconfiguration, it is contemplated that tactile inputs 332-346 andactions 352-364 may be displayed in any location, order, and/orconfiguration.

Example actions that can be assigned to tactile inputs of the inputdevice 330 include starting an audio recording that will be converted totext using voice recognition software and populating a field of amedical imaging report, as well as stopping an audio recording that willbe converted to text and populating a field of a medical imaging report.Example actions specific to a medical imaging report may also includedigitally signing a dictation that has been converted to text topopulate a field of a medical imaging report. Signing the dictation mayinclude accessing and saving a previously saved digital signature intothe medical imaging report. One action assigned to a tactile input mayinclude digitally signing a text version of a dictation and opening anext dictation session. In one embodiment, an action includes digitallysigning and closing a first medical imaging report and opening a nextmedical imaging report. Other actions may include finding a medicalimaging report, navigating fields in a medical imaging report, insertingstructured data from another report (e.g., an EMR) into a medicalimaging report, sending a medical imaging report for review, putting amedical imaging report on hold, and the like. Actions 352-364 may eachbe different, or some or all of actions 352-364 may be the same,according to the radiologist's preferences.

In one embodiment, the action assigned to a tactile input is rendering asupport request menu for requesting support to assist in furtheranalysis of the medical imaging. A request generation may requestadditional information (e.g., additional medical imaging or medicalinformation) from electronic medical records stored in care system 153.In one embodiment, the action assigned to a tactile input is contactinga referring physician or other medical provider that is familiar withthe medical imaging. In this case, the radiologist may be connected tothe referring physician over VoIP, the Internet, or any othercommunication channel.

FIG. 4A illustrates a block diagram schematic of a computing device 420,input device 330, speech-to-text server 450, and medical imagingdistribution device 190. Computing device 420 includes a communicationport 422, a NIC (Network Interface Card) 424, processing logic 426, anda memory 428. Communication port 422 may be a USB port. Processing logic426 may be a processor, microprocessor, FPGA, or other suitable logicdevice. Memory 428 may be a flash memory or a spinning hard drive.Memory 428 may store a medical imaging report 475. Memory 428 iscommunicatively coupled to processing logic 426 by way of interface 436.Communication port 422 is communicatively coupled to processing logic426 by way of interface 432. NIC 424 is communicatively coupled toprocessing logic 426 by way of interface 434.

In one embodiment, a radiologist may press a tactile input button 346and input device 330 records a dictation of the radiologist. Thedictation may be streamed to computing device 420 through communicationport 422 to processing logic 426. Processing logic 426 may then send thedictation stream to speech-to-text server 450 via NIC 424. NIC 424 maypacketize the dictation stream for transmission to speech-to-text server450. It is understood that a communication channel 455 between server450 and NIC 424 may include any type of network, including local areanetworks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and/or the Internet and thatserver 450 may be physically remote from computing device 420 orproximate to computing device 420.

Speech-to-text server 450 may analyze the dictation stream, convert itto text, and send it back to processing logic 426 by way of NIC 424.Processing logic may render the text to a display (e.g., display 210)viewable by the radiologist. The radiologist may review the text, and,if satisfactory, approve the dictation text for populating a field ofmedical imaging report 475. To approve (sign) the text generated by thedictation, the radiologist may simply push a button (e.g., tactile inputbutton 338) of input device 330 which causes the dictation text to besaved to medical imaging report 475. As referenced previously, medicalimaging report 475 may be stored locally in memory 428 or stored in amemory in medical imaging distribution device 190, which may be a serverlocated proximately or remotely. The dictation text may be saved tomedical imaging report 475 to be RIS (Radiology Information System)compatible. If medical imaging report 475 is stored locally, once themedical imaging report is completed by the radiologist, the radiologistmay actuate a tactile input button (e.g., 336) to sign, save, andtransmit the medical imaging record to medical imaging distributiondevice 190. In this case, processing logic 426 accesses medical imagingreport 475 from memory 428 and sends it to medical imaging distributiondevice 190 via NIC 424. Device 190 may then send it back to care system153 via imaging selection device 133.

FIG. 4B is a system diagram of illustrating a radiological system forreviewing medical imaging in a browser environment according to someembodiments of the invention. The radiological system includes an inputdevice 330 (e.g., a dictation device) and a display 210. The inputdevice 330 and the display 210 may be communicatively coupled to acomputing device 420. The computing device 420 may further becommunicatively coupled to a remote hub 490.

The computing device 420 may include an input port 484 configured tocouple to the input device 330. As discussed further herein, the inputdevice 330 may be a dictation device.

The input device 330 may include at least microphone and a plurality oftactile inputs, and may further include any of a number of otherfunctional and/or physical components. Input device 330 may take anyphysical form and be of any size, shape, color, configuration, etc.

The computing device 420 may further include a display port 486configured to couple to a display 210. Display 210 may be an outputdevice for presentation of information in visual or tactile form. Insome embodiments, display 210 may be an electronic visual display, suchas a television screen, computer monitor, and/or video display. Suitabletechnologies that may be implemented by display 210 include a cathoderay tube display (CRT), a light-emitting diode display (LED), anelectroluminescent display (ELD), a plasma display panel (PDP), a liquidcrystal display (LCD), a thin-film transistor display (TFT), an organiclight-emitting diode display (OLED), and/or the like.

The input port 484 and the display port 486 may be coupled to drivers482. Drivers 482 may be device drivers that control their associateddevices that are attached to the computing device 420. Drivers 482 mayprovide a software interface to the input device 330 and the display210, enabling the operating system 480 and/or the browser 660 to accessthe functions of these devices. Drivers 482 may communicate with theinput device 330 and the display 210 through a bus or communicationssubsystem, for example. In practice, in some embodiments, a user maymake an action in browser 660 to invoke input device 330 and/or display210 that is communicated to the operating system 480. The operatingsystem 480 may then communicate those actions to drivers 480 to invoke aroutine in the drivers 482. In some embodiments, a user may make anaction in browser 660 to invoke input device 330 and/or display 210 thatis communicated directly to the drivers 482 to invoke a routine in thedrivers 482. When the operating system 480 and/or the browser 660invokes a routine in the drivers 482, the drivers 482 issue commands tothe input device 330 and/or the display 210.

The operating system 480 may be software that manages the hardware(e.g., input device 330, the display 210, storage, memory, and or thelike) and software (e.g., browser 660). The operating system 480 may actas an intermediary between the browser 660 and the hardware in someembodiments, as described above. In other embodiments, the browser 660may be invoked by the hardware directly. The operating system 480 may beany suitable operating system, including, but not limited to, MicrosoftWindows, OS X, Linux (e.g., one example of which is Google Chrome OS),Android, and the like.

Some operating systems that may be implemented as operating system 480,such as Google Chrome OS, may be designed for users that primarily usethe Internet (e.g., through browser 660), and as such, may primarily bea web browser with limited ability to run local applications. Instead,some operating systems may rely on Internet applications to accomplishtasks.

As such, browser 660 may implement device applet 663A and/or dictationapplet 663B as Internet applications running within browser 660 (e.g.,Google Chrome or any other suitable Internet browser application).Browser 660 may be communicatively coupled to a remote hub 490 executinga remote applet 492. The remote hub 490 may be physically located awayfrom the computing device 420, and may include, for example,speech-to-text server 450, medical imaging distribution device 190,and/or any other remote device or server. The computing device 420 mayload code into the browser 660 to facilitate communication between theinput device 330 and the remote applet 492. Browser 660 may be includedwithin an application layer (as shown and described with respect to FIG.6), or may be executing on a separate layer above the application layer.

The computing device 420 may perform a variety of functions. The deviceapplet 663A within the browser 660 may identify the input device 330coupled to the computing device 420 via input port 484. In someembodiments, this identification may be done by exchanging a deviceidentifier corresponding to the input device 330, as described furtherherein. The device applet may determine a device image that correspondsto the input device 330 (e.g., that matches the input device 330), andselect the device image from a plurality of device images thatcorrespond to a plurality of input devices. In some embodiments, some orall of these functions may be partially or wholly executed by remoteapplet 492 according to instructions sent by the device applet 663A. Inthese embodiments, remote applet 492 may retrieve the requestedinformation locally or from a remote storage device. The device applet663A may, either directly or indirectly, invoke drivers 482 to outputthe device image to the display port 486 to be displayed on display 210.The device image may include one or more graphical representationscorresponding to the plurality of tactile inputs of the input device330.

The device applet 663A may also either obtain or instruct remote applet492 to obtain a map corresponding to the device image. The map mayinclude a listing of the plurality of tactile inputs of the input device330 and a listing of one or more actions assignable to each of theplurality of tactile inputs. Each of the one or more actions maycorrespond to an input to the computing device 420. The device applet663A may, either directly or indirectly, invoke drivers 482 to outputthe map to the display port 486 to be displayed on display 210.

A first user input may be made via input device 330 corresponding to afirst tactile input of the plurality of tactile inputs of the inputdevice 330. The first user input may be communicated to drivers 482 viainput port 484. In response to this first user input, drivers 482 may,directly or indirectly, invoke a routine within device applet 663A toassign a first action of the one or more actions to the first tactileinput.

In some embodiments, after at least one action has been assigned to atleast one tactile input, the device applet 663A may obtain, eitherlocally or remotely, a medical imaging report. The device applet 663Amay send the medical imaging report to the display port 486 via thedrivers 482, to be displayed by display 210. A second user input may bemade via input device 330 corresponding to the first tactile input ofthe plurality of tactile inputs of the input device 330. The second userinput may be communicated to drivers 482 via input port 484. In responseto this second user input, drivers 482 may, directly or indirectly,invoke a routine within device applet 663A to amend the medical imagingreport in browser 660 according to the first action assigned to thefirst tactile input.

In some embodiments, audio input may be received from a microphone ofthe input device 330 in the form of a dictation and/or voice recording.The audio input may be communicated to drivers 482 via input port 484.In response to this audio input, drivers 482 may, directly orindirectly, invoke a routine within dictation applet 663B to process thedictation using voice recognition, and amend the medical imaging reportaccording to the dictation in the browser 660. In some embodiments, someor all of these functions may be partially or wholly executed by remoteapplet 492 according to instructions sent by the dictation applet 663B.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative flow chart 500 for a process for medicalimaging report input. The process is illustrated as a logical flowdiagram, each operation of which represents a sequence of operationsthat can be implemented in either hardware, computer instructions, or acombination thereof In the context of computer instructions, theoperations represent computer-executable instructions stored on one ormore computer-readable storage media that, when executed by one or moreprocessors, perform the recited operations. Generally,computer-executable instructions include routines, programs, objects,components, data structures, and the like that perform particularfunctions or implement particular data types. The order in which theoperations are described is not intended to be construed as alimitation, and any number of the described operations can be omitted orcombined in any order and/or in parallel to implement this process andany other processes described herein.

In process block 502, an input device is identified. In someembodiments, the input device is a recording device and/or a dictationdevice. In some embodiments, the input device may be identified bycomputing device 220 and/or 420 by sending a query to the input deviceover a USB channel and receiving a device identifier from the inputdevice. Optional process block 504 includes determining whether theidentified input device is a trusted or supported input device.Computing device 220 and/or 420 may compare the device identifierreceived from the input device to a list of trusted or supported inputdevices to determine whether the identified input device is a trustedinput device, for example. If the input device is a trusted or supportedinput device, a matching device image is selected that corresponds tothe identified (and trusted or supported) input device, in process block506. The matching device image may be selected from a plurality ofdevice images that correspond to a plurality of trusted or supportedinput devices.

In process block 508, the matching device image (e.g., 304) is renderedto the display. The matching device image includes graphical, pictorialand/or symbolic representation of the tactile inputs of the identifiedinput device. A map (e.g., 306) is rendered to the display in processblock 510. The map may include a listing of the one or more tactileinputs of the input device and a listing of one or more actionsassignable to each of the tactile inputs. Each of the actions may be aninput to the computing device (e.g., computing device 220 and/or 420).

In process block 512, a first user input is received. The user input maybe from a computer mouse or a computer keyboard, for example. In someembodiments, the user input may be from the input device. The first userinput may correspond to a first tactile input of the one or more tactileinputs of the input device. For example, the first user input may be aselection of the graphical image of one of the tactile inputs of theinput device and/or a selection of an action to correspond to one of thetactile inputs of the input device. In process block 514, a first actionof the one or more actions is assigned to the first tactile input (e.g.,338) in response to the first user input. In one embodiment, a userselects the first action from a drop-down menu to assign the firstaction to the first tactile input. A medical imaging report may then berendered to the display in some embodiments. A second user input may bereceived from the first tactile input of the one or more tactile inputs,in process block 516. For example, the input may be received when thefirst tactile input is actuated by a user. In process block 518, themedical imaging report is amended according to the first action inresponse to receiving the second user input from the first tactileinput. For example, in response to receiving an actuation of a firsttactile input, the medical imaging report may be signed and saved, ifthe signed and saved action is assigned to the first tactile input.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a protocol stack 699 that may beimplemented by the computing device in conjunction with the input device330, in accordance with some embodiments. The computing device mayimplement the protocol stack to communicate with any of the otherdevices described herein. The protocol stack 699 may include one or moreof seven layers: an application layer 607, a presentation layer 606, asession layer 605, a transport layer 604, a network layer 603, a datalink layer 602, and a physical link layer 601. Together, these sevenlayers may represent a model, such as an Open Systems Interconnection(OSI) model. The OSI model of FIG. 6 may characterize the communicationfunctions of the computing device. Although shown and described ashaving seven layers, it is contemplated that the protocol stack 699 mayinclude more or fewer layers to perform less, the same, or additionalfunctions.

According to the OSI model, the application layer 607 may interact witha user (e.g., via receiving user inputs and presenting outputs) andsoftware applications implementing a communication component. Theapplication layer 607 may synchronize communication between entities anddetermine resource availability. The application layer 607 may beapplication-specific, in that the specific functions dependent on theparticular application being executed by the computing device.

For example, the application layer 607 may execute a browser 660 (e.g.,Google Chrome) which in turn may execute the processes (e.g., offlowchart 500) of the disclosure with the assistance of an extension663. Browser 660 and extension 663 may be executed entirely at theapplication layer 607. This allows for radiologists who are viewing themedical imaging and mapping their input devices for inputting intomedical imaging reports to have a zero footprint system in that only abrowser as an application and corresponding extension are required toexecute the disclosed processes. In implementations that include a zerofootprint system, a list of input devices identifiers, a list of trustedor supported input devices, the plurality of device images (includingdevice image 304), map 306, and user profiles may be stored in a memoryof a server, for example. The browser and corresponding extension maythen access this content stored in the memory of the server.

The presentation layer 606 may translate between application and networkformats. Various applications and networks may implement differentsyntaxes and semantics. Thus, the presentation layer 606 may transformdata from the network into a form that the application accepts. Thepresentation layer 606 may also format and encrypt data from theapplication to be sent on a network.

The session layer 605 may control connections between the computingdevice and other devices and/or servers, as described herein. Thesession layer 605 may establish the connections, manage the connections,and terminate the connections used to communicate between the devices.

The transport layer 604 may provide techniques for performing quality ofservice functions during transfers of data between devices. Thetransport layer 604 may provide error control. For example, thetransport layer 604 may keep track of data being transmitted andtransmit any communications that fail. In addition, the transport layer604 may provide an acknowledgment of successful data transmission andsend the next data to be transmitted in a synchronous fashion if noerrors occurred.

The network layer 603 may provide the means of transferring the data toand from the computing device over a network. The source node anddestination node of the devices may each have an address which permitsthe other to transfer data to it by providing the address with the data.The network layer 603 may also perform routing functions that allow itto a determine a path between the source node and destination node,possibly through other nodes.

The data link layer 602 may define and provide the link between adirectly and physically connected source node and destination node. Thedata link layer 602 may further detect and correct errors occurring atthe physical layer 601. In some embodiments, the data link layer 602 mayinclude two sublayers: a media access control (MAC) layer that maycontrol how devices in the network gain access to data and gainpermission to transmit it, and a logical link control (LLC) layer thatmay identify network layer 603 protocols and encapsulate them.

In implementations where input device 330 is a USB device, physical linklayer 601 includes a USB port 668 for communicatively coupling to inputdevice 330 via communication link 225. When communicating with inputdevice 330, data from browser 660 propagates through the layers of theprotocol stack 699 until it reaches USB port 668, where the signals aresent to input device 330. Similarly, signals received from input device330 (e.g., a device identifier) propagate through the protocol stack 699from USB port 668 to browser 660.

As noted, the computer-readable medium may include transient media, suchas a wireless broadcast or wired network transmission, or storage media(that is, non-transitory storage media), such as a hard disk, flashdrive, compact disc, digital video disc, Blu-ray disc, or othercomputer-readable media. The computer-readable medium may be understoodto include one or more computer-readable media of various forms, invarious examples.

In the foregoing description, aspects of the application are describedwith reference to specific embodiments thereof, but those skilled in theart will recognize that the invention is not limited thereto. Thus,while illustrative embodiments of the application have been described indetail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may beotherwise variously embodied and employed, and that the appended claimsare intended to be construed to include such variations, except aslimited by the prior art. Various features and aspects of theabove-described invention may be used individually or jointly. Further,embodiments can be utilized in any number of environments andapplications beyond those described herein without departing from thebroader spirit and scope of the specification. The specification anddrawings are, accordingly, to be regarded as illustrative rather thanrestrictive. For the purposes of illustration, methods were described ina particular order. It should be appreciated that in alternateembodiments, the methods may be performed in a different order than thatdescribed.

Where components are described as performing or being “configured to”perform certain operations, such configuration can be accomplished, forexample, by designing electronic circuits or other hardware to performthe operation, by programming programmable electronic circuits (e.g.,microprocessors, or other suitable electronic circuits) to perform theoperation, or any combination thereof

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, andalgorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosedherein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software,firmware, or combinations thereof. To clearly illustrate thisinterchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrativecomponents, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been describedabove generally in terms of their functionality. Whether suchfunctionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality invarying ways for each particular application, but such implementationdecisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from thescope of the present invention.

The techniques described herein may also be implemented in electronichardware, computer software, firmware, or any combination thereof. Suchtechniques may be implemented in any of a variety of devices such asgeneral purposes computers, wireless communication device handsets, orintegrated circuit devices having multiple uses including application inwireless communication device handsets and other devices. Any featuresdescribed as modules or components may be implemented together in anintegrated logic device or separately as discrete but interoperablelogic devices. If implemented in software, the techniques may berealized at least in part by a computer-readable data storage mediumcomprising program code including instructions that, when executed,performs one or more of the methods described above. Thecomputer-readable data storage medium may form part of a computerprogram product, which may include packaging materials. Thecomputer-readable medium may comprise memory or data storage media, suchas random access memory (RAM) such as synchronous dynamic random accessmemory (SDRAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile random accessmemory (NVRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory(EEPROM), FLASH memory, magnetic or optical data storage media, and thelike. The techniques additionally, or alternatively, may be realized atleast in part by a computer-readable communication medium that carriesor communicates program code in the form of instructions or datastructures and that can be accessed, read, and/or executed by acomputer, such as propagated signals or waves.

The program code may be executed by a processor, which may include oneor more processors, such as one or more digital signal processors(DSPs), general purpose microprocessors, an application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable logic arrays (FPGAs), orother equivalent integrated or discrete logic circuitry. Such aprocessor may be configured to perform any of the techniques describedin this disclosure. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor;but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration. Accordingly, the term “processor,” as used herein mayrefer to any of the foregoing structure, any combination of theforegoing structure, or any other structure or apparatus suitable forimplementation of the techniques described herein. In addition, in someaspects, the functionality described herein may be provided withindedicated software modules or hardware modules configured for encodingand decoding, or incorporated in a combined video encoder-decoder(CODEC).

The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, beevident that various modifications and changes may be made thereuntowithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the disclosure asset forth in the claims.

Other variations are within the spirit of the present disclosure. Thus,while the disclosed techniques are susceptible to various modificationsand alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereofare shown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit thedisclosure to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary,the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructionsand equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure,as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A radiological system to facilitate reviewingmedical imaging in a browser environment, the radiological systemcomprising: a remote hub that comprises one or more servers and that isremote from a plurality of computing devices communicatively couplableto the remote hub via one or more networks, the remote hub configured toperform: processing sets of one or more medical images generated by oneor more imaging devices that are remote from the remote hub; for eachset of one or more medical images of the received sets of one or moremedical images: generating a respective electronic record correspondingto a respective task and including the respective electronic record in atask list, the respective task comprising medical imaging data andmedical data identified as relevant to analysis of the medical imagingdata; and assigning the respective task to a selected queue of aplurality of queues, the selected queue corresponding to a computingdevice of the plurality of computing devices; for each computing deviceof the plurality of computing devices: hosting an applet communicativelycoupled to a browser application loaded by the computing device;processing a device identifier received from the computing device, thedevice identifier corresponding to a dictation device communicativelycoupled to the computing device; matching the received device identifierto a device identifier from a plurality of device identifiers stored bythe remote hub; consequent to the matching, determining a device imagethat corresponds to the dictation device to facilitate assignment of oneor more actions assignable to one or more tactile inputs of thedictation device and amendment of a medical imaging report correspondingto the respective task received by the computing device; and processingthe medical imaging report amended based at least in part on theassignment of the one or more actions to the one or more tactile inputsof the dictation device.
 2. The radiological system to facilitatereviewing medical imaging in a browser environment as recited in claim1, where the remote hub is further configured to perform, for each setof one or more medical images of the received sets of one or moremedical images, consequent to the assigning, transmitting the respectivetask to the computing device of the plurality of computing devices thatcorresponds to the selected queue.
 3. The radiological system tofacilitate reviewing medical imaging in a browser environment as recitedin claim 2, where the determining the device image that corresponds tothe dictation device comprising selecting the device image from aplurality of device images that correspond to a plurality of dictationdevices.
 4. The radiological system to facilitate reviewing medicalimaging in a browser environment as recited in claim 3, where the remotehub receives the medical imaging report transmitted from the computingdevice via at least one network of the one or more networks.
 5. Theradiological system to facilitate reviewing medical imaging in a browserenvironment as recited in claim 4, where the remote hub saves theassignment of the one or more actions to the one or more tactile inputsof the dictation device in a user profile stored by the remote hub. 6.The radiological system to facilitate reviewing medical imaging in abrowser environment as recited in claim 5, where the amendment of themedical imaging report comprising amending the medical imaging report inthe browser application in response to receiving user input from atleast one of the one or more tactile inputs at least in part byprocessing a dictation received via a microphone of the dictation deviceusing voice recognition to amend the medical imaging report according tothe dictation in the browser application.
 7. The radiological system tofacilitate reviewing medical imaging in a browser environment as recitedin claim 6, where the remote hub is further configured to performfacilitating the assignment with a map corresponding to the deviceimage, the map comprising indicia of the one or more tactile inputs ofthe dictation device and the one or more actions assignable to the oneor more tactile inputs of the dictation device.
 8. One or morenon-transitory, computer-readable storage devices for storingcomputer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or morecomputer systems, configure the one or more computer systems to performoperations comprising: processing sets of one or more medical imagesgenerated by one or more imaging devices that are remote from the one ormore computer systems; for each set of one or more medical images of thereceived sets of one or more medical images: generating a respectiveelectronic record corresponding to a respective task and including therespective electronic record in a task list, the respective taskcomprising medical imaging data and medical data identified as relevantto analysis of the medical imaging data; and assigning the respectivetask to a selected queue of a plurality of queues, the selected queuecorresponding to a computing device of a plurality of computing devicescommunicatively couplable to the one or more computer systems via one ormore networks; and for each computing device of the plurality ofcomputing devices: hosting an applet communicatively coupled to abrowser application loaded by the computing device; processing a deviceidentifier received from the computing device, the device identifiercorresponding to a dictation device communicatively coupled to thecomputing device; matching the received device identifier to a deviceidentifier from a plurality of device identifiers stored by the one ormore computer systems; consequent to the matching, determining a deviceimage that corresponds to the dictation device to facilitate assignmentof one or more actions assignable to one or more tactile inputs of thedictation device and amendment of a medical imaging report correspondingto the respective task received by the computing device; and processingthe medical imaging report amended based at least in part on theassignment of the one or more actions to the one or more tactile inputsof the dictation device.
 9. The one or more non-transitory,computer-readable storage devices as recited in claim 8, the operationsfurther comprising: for each set of one or more medical images of thereceived sets of one or more medical images, consequent to theassigning, transmitting the respective task to the computing device ofthe plurality of computing devices that corresponds to the selectedqueue.
 10. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable storagedevices as recited in claim 9, where the determining the device imagethat corresponds to the dictation device comprising selecting the deviceimage from a plurality of device images that correspond to a pluralityof dictation devices.
 11. The one or more non-transitory,computer-readable storage devices as recited in claim 10, where the oneor more computer systems receive the medical imaging report transmittedfrom the computing device via at least one network of the one or morenetworks.
 12. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable storagedevices as recited in claim 11, the operations further comprising savingthe assignment of the one or more actions to the one or more tactileinputs of the dictation device in a user profile stored by the one ormore computer systems.
 13. The one or more non-transitory,computer-readable storage devices as recited in claim 12, where theamendment of the medical imaging report comprising amending the medicalimaging report in the browser application in response to receiving userinput from at least one of the one or more tactile inputs at least inpart by processing a dictation received via a microphone of thedictation device using voice recognition to amend the medical imagingreport according to the dictation in the browser application.
 14. Theone or more non-transitory, computer-readable storage devices as recitedin claim 13, the operations further comprising facilitating theassignment with a map corresponding to the device image, the mapcomprising indicia of the one or more tactile inputs of the dictationdevice and the one or more actions assignable to the one or more tactileinputs of the dictation device.
 15. A method to facilitate reviewingmedical imaging in a browser environment, the method comprising:processing sets of one or more medical images generated by one or moreimaging devices that are remote from the one or more computer systems;for each set of one or more medical images of the received sets of oneor more medical images: generating a respective electronic recordcorresponding to a respective task and including the respectiveelectronic record in a task list, the respective task comprising medicalimaging data and medical data identified as relevant to analysis of themedical imaging data; and assigning the respective task to a selectedqueue of a plurality of queues, the selected queue corresponding to acomputing device of a plurality of computing devices communicativelycouplable to the one or more computer systems via one or more networks;and for each computing device of the plurality of computing devices:hosting an applet communicatively coupled to a browser applicationloaded by the computing device; processing a device identifier receivedfrom the computing device, the device identifier corresponding to adictation device communicatively coupled to the computing device;matching the received device identifier to a device identifier from aplurality of device identifiers stored by the one or more computersystems; consequent to the matching, determining a device image thatcorresponds to the dictation device to facilitate assignment of one ormore actions assignable to one or more tactile inputs of the dictationdevice and amendment of a medical imaging report corresponding to therespective task received by the computing device; and processing themedical imaging report amended based at least in part on the assignmentof the one or more actions to the one or more tactile inputs of thedictation device.
 16. The method to facilitate reviewing medical imagingin a browser environment as recited in claim 15, further comprising: foreach set of one or more medical images of the received sets of one ormore medical images, consequent to the assigning, transmitting therespective task to the computing device of the plurality of computingdevices that corresponds to the selected queue.
 17. The method tofacilitate reviewing medical imaging in a browser environment as recitedin claim 16, where the determining the device image that corresponds tothe dictation device comprising selecting the device image from aplurality of device images that correspond to a plurality of dictationdevices.
 18. The method to facilitate reviewing medical imaging in abrowser environment as recited in claim 17, where the one or morecomputer systems receive the medical imaging report transmitted from thecomputing device via at least one network of the one or more networks.19. The method to facilitate reviewing medical imaging in a browserenvironment as recited in claim 18, further comprising saving theassignment of the one or more actions to the one or more tactile inputsof the dictation device in a user profile stored by the one or morecomputer systems.
 20. The method to facilitate reviewing medical imagingin a browser environment as recited in claim 19, where the amendment ofthe medical imaging report comprising amending the medical imagingreport in the browser application in response to receiving user inputfrom at least one of the one or more tactile inputs at least in part byprocessing a dictation received via a microphone of the dictation deviceusing voice recognition to amend the medical imaging report according tothe dictation in the browser application.